as in disproving
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in denying
to declare not to be true
while he was publicly refuting rumors of a merger, behind the scenes the CEO was working to effect that very outcome
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discrediting
to prove to be false
the victories of African-American athlete Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics effectively refuted the racial views of the Nazis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of refuting
Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
According to the Department of Industrial Relations, the violations were issued without proper internal documentation, failed to consider materials previously submitted by the company refuting the violations, and should not have been sent.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
The film spends the next hour and 50 minutes refuting that idea.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025
Michaels took to her Instagram days after the release of Fit for TV to post a series of screenshots of text chains, email threads, and other pieces of documentation refuting or otherwise complicating each claim leveled at her.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2025
Health experts and medical organizations are refuting claims of a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
Barrett himself previously addressed the rumors surrounding his time off, refuting any suggestion that he had been removed from his position.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
On Friday, Swift’s lawyer stepped into the fray to set the record straight, refuting the claim that his client had agreed to answer questions under oath.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
Days after the hearing, the leader of the Pentagon's office to investigate UFOs provided testimony of his own refuting some of the claims.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
However, an insider close to Nicola is refuting that account.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuting
Verb
-
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell released a video statement on Sunday night denying criminal wrongdoing shortly after the Department of Justice opened an investigation into him.—
-
The vaccine misinformation advanced by the president and his science-denying Secretary of Health and Human Services is taking its toll on vaccination rates.—
Verb
-
Megan thee Stallion, legal name Megan Pete, sued Milagro Cooper last year for defamation, accusing her of working with Tory Lanez on discrediting her during his own trial with Pete where he was convicted of shooting her in the foot.—
-
On Thursday, India’s Press Information Bureau dismissed earlier social-media posts claiming that a Tejas aircraft had an oil leak during the air show, saying they were aimed at discrediting the fighter’s established technical reliability with unfounded claims, according to The Associated Press.—
Verb
-
But a jury apparently disagreed, convicting Amiri of a civil rights violation that relied heavily on Manly-Williams’ testimony and rejecting all other charges, including conspiracy to violate civil rights.—
-
Talarico represents the Democrats who believe that winning is possible by rejecting rather than emulating the president’s least flattering qualities.—
Verb
-
Oral arguments in November went badly for the administration, and prediction markets currently put 70% odds on the Supreme Court overturning the tariffs.—
-
Donald filed for an appeal in February 1997, and a court heard his pleas in 2015 before overturning his convictions.—
Adjective
-
In the days since the raid, the White House has offered a mess of contradictory plans and rationales.—
-
But the sheer amount of it can be difficult to keep up with, and sometimes the guidance can be downright contradictory.—
Verb
-
Federal and state officials have offered contradicting accounts of those videos.—
-
The group says that carveout opened a political pathway to faster access to federal records, contradicting FOIA’s requirement that agencies handle requests in a content-neutral manner.—
Verb
-
The other partner’s reaction ends up confirming those beliefs instead of disproving them.—
Adjective
-
Even the opposing team got in on the action.—
-
If Young ever offers a provocative pregame quote that provides a soundbite for the opposing locker room, a roomful of reporters will collapse in surprise on the spot.—
Cite this Entry
“Refuting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuting. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share